Finding Joy in the Daily Grind-Target Designer Joy Cho

As spring time approaches, our schedules start to fill with graduations, school activities, sporting events, baby showers, weddings and just daily responsibilities. We are often running from one thing to another and forgetting about the most important thing, taking care of ourselves! Whether it is getting a massage, taking time to read a bok or going to hear a motivational speaker, it is imperative that we take time to invest in ourselves. It can be a time of relaxing and reflection or it can be a time of self-improvement, a leadership class, women’s or men’s retreat or a marriage getaway.

Risen Editor, Kelli Gillespie and I were invited to Club Mom.me’s Annual Springfest. We enjoyed mini-massages, manicures, snacked on wonderful treats, checked out the latest baby gear, but most importantly we heard from other working moms. Our favorite was Joy Cho, a designer whose work can be seen everywhere from Target to Urban Outfitters. She also is the founder of Oh Joy, an inspirational design website. Joy shared with the group her career journey, from her humble beginnings working from her home to overseeing a staff and designing lines for Target. She was open with the group about the difficulties of being a working mom, balancing deadlines, supporting her husband and prioritizing time with her children. This was her take on work-life balance.

“I always remind myself and others: You should not do it all, because you can’t and no one can! You should do the things that are most important to you. I place priority on the things and the people that I love most. And let everything else come second. At the end of the day, I think back on what happened and if I can say that my family loves me, that I am happy at my job and that I did my best to make a difference in the world in the way that I know how, then I can feel like I had a good day.”

 “She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”  Luke 10:39-42

Jesus’ schedule was non-stop. He was preaching, healing people, training the disciples and yet we see him take time to purposefully rest. He even called out Martha for being too busy! If Jesus found it important to rest and spend time with God, how much more so should we?

“and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:34-35

Joy reflected on her journey and opened up how success was not handed to her. Her mom and dad were immigrants to the United States and opened up a restaurant with their family money. She saw how they not only worked hard, but incorporated their family into their work. When she first started designing, she was putting product together in her apartment. It was a good reminder that we are often only told the last chapter or successful part of someone’s story but not all of the hard work and that goes into it.

Joy shared with the attendees about how being successful is a process and the work that is involved.

“Opportunities don’t come to those who sit around and wait. Figure out what you want to do. Research ways to get there and knock on every (virtual) door!”

There are many days where we feel pulled in different directions, our careers, schoolwork, responsibilities to our family, personal desires and our relationship with God. We want to have a healthy work life balance but we are often past the point of exhaustion. God desires for us to put Him first. As we do this, He will help us prioritize our responsibilities. Sometimes it will mean saying no and sometimes it will mean stepping away and taking time for ourselves. When we become too busy, we get worn down and often don’t do the things we are called to do well. Our joy ultimately comes from our relationship with Christ. However, if we are too busy to even spend time with Him, it will be difficult to have true joy. Be encouraged, it is easy to get back on track!

Risen Reflections

Are you a Mary or a Martha? Are you busy doing and being on the go or are you taking time to spend time with God? Slow down. Put God first. Ask Him to bring order to your responsibilities and what you should commit to. It might mean stepping down or delegating responsibilities or saying, “No,” to things.

Take time for you! Carve out time for you. It may not be easy, but protect that time. Spend time reading the Bible, journaling, praying. Go for a walk in nature. Turn off your phone, turn your out of office message on for the day and just spend time away.

Find a class, retreat or getaway that will enrich you. Many churches offer leadership trainings, women’s and men’s retreats and even business classes. Pray and ask God what talents and purpose He wants you to pursue and then pursue those things.

Make sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram for more photos from our day!

Joy’s quotes taken from her talk at Club Mom.me’s Springfest event. For her full  interview with Club Mom.me click here.